Improvement in machines for picking cotton in the field



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. THORN, OF OOUBTLAND, ALABAMA.

IMPROVEMENT lN MACHINES FOR PICKING COTTON lN THE l-'IEL D.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 8.363, dated October 6, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH .W. THORN, of Courtland, in the county of Lawrence and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Picking Cotton in the Field; and I do hereby declare that the following is a' full, clear, and exact description of the construction anduoperation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a top View of said ma chine. Fig. 2 represents a vertical cross-section through the same. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of two pickingcylinders. Fig. 4 represents a perspective fraction of the cotton-receptacle.

The nature of my invention relates to that class ot machines for picking cotton in the field which are driven by horse-power, and in which the cotton is collected by a number ot' picking-cylinders and depositedby them in a receiver, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, l will proceed to de-` scribe its vconstruction and operation.

A represents the frame of the machine, which rests on the axles B and B of the driving-wheels C. To these-shafts are secured the bevel-wheels D, by means of which rotary motion is transmitted to pinions E, which are secured on the shafts I of the rollers F.

F' F' are two rollers similar to roller F, the bearings of which play loosely in the frame A and above the rollers F.

et represen-ts metal slats or rods, which are connected to each other by means of chainlinks c, said chain-links passing through the grooves m of the cylinders F and F', and forming, together with the slats a, endless aprons which pass around both rollers F and F', and which are operated so as to travel round both cylinders when one of these cylinders is rotated. On each alternate plate a is mounted a shaft, b, which rests in suitable bearings, n, and is at liberty to turn in said bearings when operated upon. To each of the shafts b are secured a number of teeth, d, which, as the aprons are operated, take up the cotton and carry it around the cylinders. The shafts b are formed at one end with toes h, which in the operation of the machine hear at certain periods against the cam-plates K, and thus operate the shafts b. The cam-plates are secured to frame A, as represented in Fig. 1.

G represen ts two curved and tapering shields, which are secured to the frame A. 'These shields are placed outside of the picking-cylinders F F', and are formed with slots o, through which the teeth d are caused to pass when the machine is in operation. The upper edges of the shields G are connected to the side pieces of the frames A by means of slats or bars El, which are sufficiently far apart as to leave a spacebetween them which is wider than the spaces o, the 4bars H constituting the inner parts of the boXesG, which are intended to receive'the picked cotton.

The operation ot' this machine is as follows: As the machine is drawn over the field the driving-wheels O impart a rotary motion to shafts B and B', which turn independent yof each other as they run with their journals iu the bearing L. The revolutions ot' the shafts B and B cause bevelwheels D to revolve, which mesh into piuions E, the latter driving cylinders Fand F. The machine now advances toward the cotton-stalks, and the teeth d of the cylinders come rst in contact with the branches of the stalks, picking the cotton and carrying it around the cylinders. As the machine' moves farther on the branches and stalks are forced between the converging cylg inders, which during the operation effectually takeo the cotton from the pods of the branches and main stalk. The cotton is carried by the teeth d upward around the cylinder F, the teeth entering the slots Q, and thereby stripping the cotton ofthe coarser impurities adhering to it. When the cotton is within the gratebars G and still on the teeth, it causes said teeth to turn with shaft b as it further descends between the hars. The teeth then assume the positions of d d', and as they further descend they draw out from the cotton which is retained within the receptacle G. As the machine moves farther, on the toes h of the shafts b come in contact with the cam-rods K, and the teeth dare turned again point upward and ready for a new picking operation. cotton collects in the receptacle G H and rises therein the teeth d collie sooner in contact with said cotton, and are then drawn out of the cotton Without bringing any of the cotton out ot' the'receptacle with them, as the spaces o o are As the f the cotton within the receptacle G by means l of the teeth d, turning on shafts b, in combination with the cam-rods K and toes h, for returning said teeth to the position for picking the cotton, substantially in the manner herein set forth.

JOSEPH W. THORN. i

Witnesses A. A. ACKLEN, R. D. SMALLEY. 

